Officers offer safety tips for safe winter weather driving

Published: Thursday, January 24, 2013 at 2:44 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, January 24, 2013 at 2:44 p.m.

With the threat of wintry weather Friday, law enforcement officers in Davidson County are urging motorists to use caution while driving.

The National Weather Service in Raleigh has issued a winter weather advisory from noon to midnight Friday night for snow, freezing rain, freezing drizzle and a little sleet. Ice accumulations of 0.10 to 0.15 of an inch are possible, a half to an inch of snow across the northern Piedmont, mainly north of U.S. Highway 64, and a quarter of an inch or less of sleet accumulation, mainly across the far northern Piedmont.

Katie Roussy, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, forecasts less than an inch of snow to accumulate Friday in Davidson County before the system moves out. With temperatures in the mid-20s, the wintry event should begin between 9 a.m. and noon in the county as a snow-sleet mix before turning over to a freezing rain mixed with snow and sleet, Roussy said. Most precipitation will fall between 2-9 p.m., the advisory said.

The event is expected to end in the evening, and there could be minimal ice accumulations on the snow, according to the NWS.

"It definitely can have an impact" on travel, Roussy said. "The roads are definitely cold. Anything that falls should probably accumulate very quickly."

Sgt. Stephen Pace of the N.C. Highway Patrol emphasizes residents should not travel unless they absolutely have to during a wintry event. The call volume for the N.C. Highway Patrol increases as frozen precipitation falls, and Pace wants residents to stay home if they can and enjoy the weather.

"I feel some people drive when they don't need to be (on the roads)," Pace said. "They get cabin fever and go out. I would stay in, light the fire, read a book and have family time."

In the event residents do have to drive on the roads, Pace tells residents to slow down and watch for black ice. He recommends that motorists should be cautious and pay attention, avoiding distractions like texting while driving.

Motorists, Pace said, should be patient if they get in an accident. He said often during wintry storms, troopers are handling more serious accidents, and there could be an extended amount of time before a trooper arrives at a wreck depending on where he or she is coming from in the county.

"It's always a good idea to have a blanket (in your vehicle) because just imagine if your car broke down and you are on the side of the road for quite some time," the sergeant said. "It's not a bad idea to keep a bottle of water or two in there, a pack of crackers, something to tide you over."

Motorists, Pace said, also should make sure their tires are properly inflated, their battery is OK and have their antifreeze checked. It's also a good idea to have a flashlight or a device to charge batteries if possible and a phone charger, the sergeant said, adding that residents should also fill up their gas tanks in their vehicles.

"Most people don't have a wrecker in mind that they always use," Pace said. "We will always ask you what wrecker you want to use."

Motorists who are getting on the roads and don't need to are putting themselves in danger and causing more work for troopers, Pace said.

"I know people love the snow and it's pretty, but it's not the time to do that," he said. "Cook up some hot chocolate and go sledding in the yard."

Capt. Mitch Kepley of the Davidson County Sheriff's Office is telling residents to watch their speed when traveling in a wintry event. The captain said speed contributes to many accidents during winter storms.

"People get up too fast, and they think there is not much snow on the ground. The next thing you know they hit (ice), and they are not going to stop like they do (normally) because of the slush and ice," Kepley said. "… People just don't slow down."

Kepley reiterates that residents should not go out during a wintry event unless they have to be on the roads. He said residents should make sure they have good tires with traction on them if they do travel.

Capt. Robby Rummage of the Lexington Police Department said he encourages residents not to travel if they don’t need to anytime there is a threat of ice. He said residents who do have to travel should refrain from doing so when it’s dark.

Rummage said motorists traveling in a wintry event should slow down, increase following difference and be careful on bridges and overpasses. While traveling on icy and snowy roads, motorists should avoid slamming on brakes and travel at a slow, steady speed.

<p>With the threat of wintry weather Friday, law enforcement officers in Davidson County are urging motorists to use caution while driving.</p><p>The National Weather Service in Raleigh has issued a winter weather advisory from noon to midnight Friday night for snow, freezing rain, freezing drizzle and a little sleet. Ice accumulations of 0.10 to 0.15 of an inch are possible, a half to an inch of snow across the northern Piedmont, mainly north of U.S. Highway 64, and a quarter of an inch or less of sleet accumulation, mainly across the far northern Piedmont.</p><p>Katie Roussy, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, forecasts less than an inch of snow to accumulate Friday in Davidson County before the system moves out. With temperatures in the mid-20s, the wintry event should begin between 9 a.m. and noon in the county as a snow-sleet mix before turning over to a freezing rain mixed with snow and sleet, Roussy said. Most precipitation will fall between 2-9 p.m., the advisory said.</p><p>The event is expected to end in the evening, and there could be minimal ice accumulations on the snow, according to the NWS.</p><p>"It definitely can have an impact" on travel, Roussy said. "The roads are definitely cold. Anything that falls should probably accumulate very quickly."</p><p>Sgt. Stephen Pace of the N.C. Highway Patrol emphasizes residents should not travel unless they absolutely have to during a wintry event. The call volume for the N.C. Highway Patrol increases as frozen precipitation falls, and Pace wants residents to stay home if they can and enjoy the weather.</p><p>"I feel some people drive when they don't need to be (on the roads)," Pace said. "They get cabin fever and go out. I would stay in, light the fire, read a book and have family time."</p><p>In the event residents do have to drive on the roads, Pace tells residents to slow down and watch for black ice. He recommends that motorists should be cautious and pay attention, avoiding distractions like texting while driving.</p><p>Motorists, Pace said, should be patient if they get in an accident. He said often during wintry storms, troopers are handling more serious accidents, and there could be an extended amount of time before a trooper arrives at a wreck depending on where he or she is coming from in the county.</p><p>"It's always a good idea to have a blanket (in your vehicle) because just imagine if your car broke down and you are on the side of the road for quite some time," the sergeant said. "It's not a bad idea to keep a bottle of water or two in there, a pack of crackers, something to tide you over."</p><p>Motorists, Pace said, also should make sure their tires are properly inflated, their battery is OK and have their antifreeze checked. It's also a good idea to have a flashlight or a device to charge batteries if possible and a phone charger, the sergeant said, adding that residents should also fill up their gas tanks in their vehicles.</p><p>"Most people don't have a wrecker in mind that they always use," Pace said. "We will always ask you what wrecker you want to use."</p><p>Motorists who are getting on the roads and don't need to are putting themselves in danger and causing more work for troopers, Pace said.</p><p>"I know people love the snow and it's pretty, but it's not the time to do that," he said. "Cook up some hot chocolate and go sledding in the yard."</p><p>Capt. Mitch Kepley of the Davidson County Sheriff's Office is telling residents to watch their speed when traveling in a wintry event. The captain said speed contributes to many accidents during winter storms.</p><p>"People get up too fast, and they think there is not much snow on the ground. The next thing you know they hit (ice), and they are not going to stop like they do (normally) because of the slush and ice," Kepley said. "… People just don't slow down."</p><p>Kepley reiterates that residents should not go out during a wintry event unless they have to be on the roads. He said residents should make sure they have good tires with traction on them if they do travel.</p><p>Capt. Robby Rummage of the Lexington Police Department said he encourages residents not to travel if they don't need to anytime there is a threat of ice. He said residents who do have to travel should refrain from doing so when it's dark.</p><p>Rummage said motorists traveling in a wintry event should slow down, increase following difference and be careful on bridges and overpasses. While traveling on icy and snowy roads, motorists should avoid slamming on brakes and travel at a slow, steady speed.</p><p>“Go into turns extremely slow,” Rummage said. “With ice, make slow and steady movements.</p><p>Rummage encourages residents to clean off all of their windows before they travel.</p><p>“Make sure visibility is good,” he said.</p><p>Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or at darrick.ignasiak@the-dispatch.com.</p>